John w



(No Model.)

J. W.00LLINS.

AIR PURIPIER AND EVAPORATOR.

No. 370,529. Patented Sept. 27, 1887.

11 1 s Iii/own 349:

N. PETERS. Fhuko-Lilhegraphnr. Wmhmgwm 11C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN \V. COLLINS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OFONE'I-IALF TO JOHN FREDERICK ATZELL, OF SAME PLACE.

AIR-PURIFIER AND EVAPORATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 370,529, datedSeptember 27, 1887.

A Application filed January 6, 1887.

To all whom-it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. CoLLINs, a citizen of the United States,residing at ashington,.in the District of Columbia, have invented a newand useful Evaporator and Air- Purifier, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to that class of evaporators and purifiers that areattached to registers or other fiues through which air passes for theventilation or heating of dwellings; and its object is to provide asimple and inexpensive device for purifying and moistening air.

The following isa description of my invention, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of myinvention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line at m. Fig. 3 showsthe application of my invention to registers that have removable fretwork and slats.

Similar figures refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The evaporator is composed of a wire net, A, made of as fine or coarse aquality as may be desired, which stops large particles of dust or otherdirt from escaping into the room. This wire frame A may be made anyshape desired, but always of such a size that the interior edges of itssides will fit closely around the exterior edges of the hole in theregister or flue to which it is attached by means of the hooks a a,fastened over the top of the frame of the register, or by other suitablefastenings.

In the interior of the wire frame A, and about two-thirds of thedistance from its base to the top, there is secured a wire-net pocket,1), extending from side to side of the wire frame A, and made in anyshape desired, but most advantageously made in the shape of anacute-angle triangle with the acute angle down, as shown in thedrawings, Fig. 2. In this case it is only necessary to add the diagonalpiece of netting, the framework itself constituting the other walls ofthe pocket. There may be one or more of these pockets used, as desired,depending upon the size of the frame A.

The wire frame A. rests in and is fastened to the tank .0, whose upperedges, Zm a, curve outward from the sides of the wire frame A,

Serial No. 223,526. (No model.)

so as to catch any water that may run down the sides of the net. Theinner edge, I,of the tank 0 is made to come flush with the bottom edgeof the hole in the flue B.

The pocket I) and the tank 0 are filled with pieces of sponge or otherporous and absorb ing substance. When the air coming through the flue Bstrikes the pocket b,it either passes through the same and the poroussubstance therein, and is thus purified and moistened,or else itisdeflected downward on the moistened substance in the tank 0 by reason ofthe inclined edge of the pocket b, and is there charged with moisturesufficient to deprive it 6 5 of its noxious effects on the health.

The top a e of the wire frame A. may, if desired, be so constructed asto open by means of the hinges f f,and water may thus be poured on thesubstance in the pocket I) through the 7o opening thus formed, or it maybe poured through the wire'gauze at the top of the frame A. WVhen thesubstance in pocket b is saturated, the water will drop on that in thetank O, which, being water-tight, will prevent the 7 5 water fromdropping on the carpet or floor.

By reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the lever for working thevalves of the register or flue may be worked by opening. the top e e ofthe wire frame A, or by means of the rod g, which passes through thehole It in the side G, and is connected to thelever by means of the slotj in its end. When the lever for working the valves of the flue issituated at the bottom of the same, it may be worked by means of the rod9, passing through the hole h in the side G and connecting with thelever by means of the'slotj in its end.

My evaporator is applicable to registers of fire-place heaters or toregisters of air-heaters o situated in the cellar of a building andcommunicating with registers fitted into walls of the different rooms,and wherever there is a current of air to be purified and moistened.

It may also be placed in the interior of regis- 5 ters that haveremovable fret-work and slats, thus resting inside the flue and out ofsight, as shown in Fig, 3 of the drawings.

1 do not limit my claim to the wire-net peck ets and tank fastened tothe inside of the wire 10a frame. They may be attached to the outsidethereof, if so desired,

WhatI claim as myinvention, and desire to secure Letters Patent for. is

l. The combination of an air-flue, a wirenet frame and wire net entirelycovering the mouth of said fine, and one or more wire-net pockets havinginclined walls and absorbent material therein, the pockets beingattached to said frame so as to act as deflectors, as described, and atank secured to the bot-tom of the wire frame below said pockets,substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. The combination, with an air-flue, of an open-Work frame located ator near the mouth thereof, having one or more open-work pockets thereinfor containing absorbent material, and a tank for catching the drip fromsaid pockets and a removable top or section,whereby the contents of saidpocket may be inserted or removed without moving the entire frame, asset forth.

3. The combination, with an air flue or conduit and an open-Work framelocated at or near its mouth, having suitable pockets therein forcontaining absorbent material, of a tank for catching the drip from saidpockets, having its upper edge flared slightly outward away from saidframe, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combinatiomwitli an air flue or conduit, of an open-work framelocated at or near its mouth, having a pocket or pockets therein forcontaining absorbent material, the lower surfaces of which are at anangle to the line of movement of the air, whereby they act as deflectorsand deflect the impinging air downward against the upper surface of thenext lower pocket or tank, substantially as described.

' JOHN W. COLLINS. Witnesses:

A. W. FLEMING, HENRY H. WELLs, Jr.

